Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

ok. so.

1: the laser can be changed.
2: I'm not keeping my DVD drive or 6-Disc changer
3: I'd like to mount an iPad instead.

laser can be changed, so your nav system is easily repaired. if you want
to send it to me, I can do it, but I could also get you some amazon part
numbers and with a small socket-and-bit set from radio shack, you could
do it yourself. not that difficult.

also: this is what I'm going to do:

I'm removing my 6-disc from the body of the radio, and I'm probably leaving
the DVD drive out. I'd like to mount an Ipad in front of the
radio, perhaps on a swivel, and use it instead. I'd like to hide the stock
screen and buttons more thoroughly, but that's too much work for the
aesthetics.

(there are still options for relocating the display and the climate controls
to, say, the glove box or the arm rest. the core circuit board and screen
are slim and compact, and would only require extending the wires of
the connectors)

plus not only is the 6-disc unused, it's heavy. and high. I don't like it.

maybe it's my imagination, but the car feels better without the weight of
the radio.

I think an iPad mount would be just fine.

something that mounts to the same four holes of the radio bracket bolts,
and is slim enough to come out through the seam between the radio and
dash would be good, I think.

I already have an iPad/iPhone connector rigged up to the power and audio.

with 3G internet, you can't beat an iOS device (iPhone/iPad) for a dash
music/entertainment system. nav, even. Google maps currently (iirc) only
has an iPhone turn-by-turn app, which can be installed on an iPad, but it
will be viewed in 2x. Google has plans to release an iPad version of the
Google maps app.

using an iPad is moving with the momentum of off-the-shelf technology
with a -huge- market and R&D behind it (rather than reinventing the wheel)...

not only do I not have the skill to replace the stock interface with a fully
functioning aftermarket one, I could not outdo an iPad (between my techie
roommates and myself, we've got a good idea what's going on with the DVD
drive, but I'll spare you the details).

and yeah, we discussed micro tower PCs with touch screens and Windows 8,
but no matter how we cut it, an iPad is great at everything you'd want in a
nav/head unit, and it's in a slim body with a touch screen.

bring the iPad in the house, sync it to more music and movies, and you could get a
bluetooth OBDII reader with accompanying apps for readouts about your car
such as this or this

///SO if you're stuck on keeping the stock nav, lemme know. there are still options.

if you'd like pictures of how to pull it apart, I can do a step by step picture
guide. it's just screws and some ribbon connectors.

Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

I don't agree that iOS devices are played out, but if it's true they're washed up, what does that make the disc-based nav we have, hmm? I can't bear looking at the audio menu especially.

get the tablet of your choice, or don't change anything at all? I already have an iPad, so I'm just using what I already have.

and yes, I got myself diagnosed with ADD four weeks ago, and this is my first month on Adderall. it's amazing. I haven't been upset about a single thing. I've always thought I was pretty great, and now I'm even more focused.

robojesus, you tell me more about yourself than you know. you don't have to be head cashier at Wal Mart to know it's not healthy to be susceptible to things that are outside of your control.

but I understand, so I've updated my previous post with bullet points. I could've written the post with better flow, but ... *effort*

I'm sorry that reading something makes you feel that way.

------------------

I don't think I'm autistic, but I do sense a bit of schizophrenia

wouldn't it be funny if the housemates/roommates I speak of are really just me.

I value getting along with people, but I'm also used to people who despise my existence. In fact I can't think of anyone who celebrates ... me, but when I look past that, everything is excellent.

still, (believe it or not), I would rather not find myself in constant conflict with people.

Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

see, that's exactly what the problem is with you. you ramble and ramble and ramble. you remind me of an old ass man in a nursing home who finally gets a chance to talk to someone and rambles and rambles for hours about literally nothing.

if you have a problem with the built in nav, go get yourself a garmin, they're 1000 times better than the pathetic piece of shit that is in this car anyway.

Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

You would need an iso loader or software to extract and mount the iso file. The ssd is a decent concept and idea, but the bus converter and the pata connection would significantly narrow the bandwidth. That being said, you are able to get a 16gb ssd for around 20 bucks nowadays and seeing how a pc power supply is 12 volts, you should have no issues getting juice to it. It is not a great idea, but some fun can definitely be had deciphering this.

Delta, you seem like a decent man with good intentions, and I apologize for being less than patient with you. I will try harder from now on to be reasonable with you.

Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

you can replace the laser or the motor in your dvd drive--both are items that fail over time

if that's what you'd like to do, I can do a picture tutorial of the process, or you could send the drive to me

(side note: the dvd drives we have in our navigation units are of a heavier-duty variety than the dvd drives we have in our computers and home entertainment systems.)

I'm trying to replace the dvd drive with a hard drive that does not have moving parts. they're known as Solid State hard drives, or SSD.

I think there's still a chance there is a direct conversion from the ribbons in our nav units and an adapter to SSD. the next step is finding a schematic for the DVD drive, that shows which pins are which, in terms of 40-pin IDE.

I didn't get a reply from bigbytecorp via email; I will call them in the morning.

Re: Another Nav problem Thread.

As long as there isn't much wiring in replacing the lens I don't think I'll have any issue doing it. I am more interested right now in getting my V back into stock working order. So if you're bored enough to do a photo tutorial then have at it. but parts of what I need is more important to me.

Thanks for all the input and good job playing around with this sh*t Delta. that's cool that you can figure that kinda of stuff . ( I am rediculously computer illiterate)